Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has criticised the recent submission of memoranda by 16 state governors advocating for the establishment of state police, deeming it a futile exercise.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Makinde expressed scepticism about the approach, stating that addressing the issue of state police should be the responsibility of the National Assembly, not the National Economic Council (NEC) or the National Security Adviser.
Last week, News About Nigeria reported that 16 governors submitted reports to the NEC, recommending changes to the constitution to permit the creation of state police.
However, Makinde, along with 20 other governors, remains unconvinced about the efficiency of state police in addressing the nation’s security challenges.
Makinde clarified that he did not submit any memoranda on state policing and questioned the utility of the submission process.
“I did not submit any memorandum to the state police. But my position is very clear about state police. I see it, quite frankly, as a waste of our time.
“I did not submit, not because of arrogance but because I don’t think the approach will quickly get us to where we want to go. You are asking the states to submit memoranda on how state police will work,” he said.
He stated that the issue of state police is a constitutional matter that should be addressed by the National Assembly before being considered by state Houses of Assembly.
According to Makinde, the National Assembly has the necessary expertise to handle the issue efficiently, and state Houses of Assembly should subsequently pass laws regarding state police once constitutional amendments are made at the federal level.
